CINCINNATI – So many so-called rivalries in professional sports exist more in the minds of fans and media than those participating in the games. At the end of the day, everyone from both sides are friends again and part of the same brotherhood of professional athletes.

However, the rivalry between the Pirates and Reds is not contrived and hasn’t been since it first started to heat up in the early part of the decade. The players, managers and coaches truly don’t like each other. In fact, there is a good bit of hatred mixed in.

That was never more evident than Tuesday night in the ninth inning of the Pirates’ 11-4 rout of the Reds at Great American Ball Park that ended their season-worst nine-game losing streak.

A brawl erupted between the two teams and it wasn’t the typical baseball melee in which players mill around and do a whole bunch of nothing. There were punches thrown, bodies on the ground and, eventually, five players ejected. And there was the threat of more of the same to come.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it sparks up again,” Joe Musgrove said. “We don’t like what happened tonight and the way they acted.”

Musgrove had more to say:

The sides won’t have a lot of time to cool down as they play again at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday to close out the three-game series. That will mark the last time the teams meet in Cincinnati this year.

However, the Reds make two more trips to Pittsburgh for three-game series’ from Aug. 23-25, then Sept. 27-29 to end the season.

Reds manager David Bell made it clear that Tuesday night’s fight won’t be forgotten anytime soon, saying “something has to be done to take care of the situation.” He felt the Pirates started the problems in the seventh when Keone Kela threw the first pitch of the inning up and in on Derek Dietrich.

Dietrich, of course, angered the Pirates back on April 7 at PNC Park when he hit a long home run off Chris Archer and stood at home plate admiring his blast. The next time Dietrich batted, Archer threw a pitch behind him that caused both benches to clear.

Conversely, the Pirates thought Tuesday’s situation was over when Jared Hughes hit Starling Marte on the left hip with the first pitch of the ninth inning and was immediately ejected. The umpires had issued warnings to both benches in the middle of the seventh inning after Reds first baseman Joey Votto began yelling and motioning at Kela.

More on all that in a bit because the main event came in the top of the ninth, not long after pinch-hitter Jose Osuna belted a three-run home run off left-hander Amir Garrett to stretch the Pirates’ lead to 11-3.

Kevin Newman followed by hitting a grounder to Votto, who flipped the ball to Garrett covering first base. Garrett slapped an unnecessary tag on Newman after the play had already been made, drawing the ire of the Pirates.

Trevor Williams yelled something at Garrett, who responded by charging off the mound and toward the Pirates’ dugout. Williams and Garrett both threw punches at each other that missed but a melee ensued that included Clint Hurdle, a man with two artificial hips, being knocked to the ground on his 62nd birthday by Bell, who came all the way from the Reds’ clubhouse having already been ejected in the eighth inning. Pirates hitting coach Rick Eckstein emerged from the fracas with visible facial scrapes and bruises.

After the umpires finally got things back under control, Williams was ejected along with teammates Chris Archer and Kyle Crick. Garrett and mercurial right fielder Yasiel Puig, who went charging into the pileup much like he did during the kerfuffle at PNC Park nearly four months ago, got the thumb on the Reds’ side.

Adding to the nuttiness is that Puig had been traded to the Indians moments earlier. However, the Reds did not immediately remove him from the game.

Archer, Crick and Williams all jumped over the dugout to meet Garrett.

“It’s one thing to throw at guys or hit them with pitches, but it’s an entirely different thing to charge someone’s dugout,” Crick said to me. “We weren’t going to stand for that. You don’t see it happen very often, but I’m not surprised that it was Amir who did it. I know him. He doesn’t do a very good job of controlling his emotions. He was mad Jose hit a home run off him, it was that simple. Well, I think it’s great that Jose hit a home run in the same inning in which they retaliated against us. That showed a lot of grittiness. The home run was the best retaliation of all.”

Garrett said the entire incident would have been avoided if Kela had not thrown his purpose pitch.

“You know it’s on purpose,” Garrett said. “We have a history with them. You know, it just gets to the point where … nobody’s protecting us. I can’t really tell you much of what happened. I was angry. Today, it wasn’t about baseball. It was about protecting my teammates, protecting this brotherhood. I’m gonna accept any punishment that I have. As a man, I take on that responsibility. I apologize for my actions. It was just in the heat of things.”

Crick echoed Garrett’s sentiments, at least when it came to protecting teammates.

“There’s a camaraderie that develops on any team and you take care of each other,” Crick said. “That’s what we were doing there.”

Kela admitted that his pitch to Dietrich had purpose behind it. That is a refreshing change of pace as about 99.99 percent of pitchers would have claimed the ball slipped out of their hand.

“I’m not going to lie,” Kela told me. “I was sending a message. I didn’t hit him, but I was letting him know I don’t appreciate the way he plays the game.”

Kela also had this to add:

Some of the Reds reportedly don’t like Dietrich’s ways, either, but Votto said he could not let Kela’s pitch go unchecked.

“We understand policing,” Votto said. “I understand that fans in general don’t like it. I understand that the league in general doesn’t like it. But I get it. However, I think there’s a dangerous way to do it, and I think there’s a safer way to do it. Ultimately, Derek’s on my team, and I’d like to think I stand up for my teammates. Today was a good example of all of us standing up for each other.”

Garrett slapping the tag on Newman just escalated the tensions that started earlier in the inning. Hughes walked off the field without arguing when he was ejected, but Garrett came in to relieve and stared down Josh Bell, who was the first batter scheduled to hit against him.

“The first thing he did when he came onto the mound was look at JB and say, ‘F you.’ There’s no denying that. We have video,” Williams said. “He came out, looked at JB and said, ‘F you.’ If he saw one of us say that to one of his guys, I’m sure he’d stand up for his team. These guys are my boys, they’re my team. We go to war with each other every day. I saw my teammate get singled out by him. I always stand up for my teammates.”

There was a lot of standing up for teammates in the final three innings, enough to cover an entire season. While emotions were still running high almost an hour after the game ended, Williams tried to be the voice of reason.

“Were we wrong in the beginning of the game? Of course. Were they in the wrong for retaliating? Maybe not,” Williams said. “The unwritten rules are so gray. How it ended up today was extremely unfortunate. It’s not good for baseball, it’s not good for the fans. It’s not good for anybody. It’s unfortunate how it happened. But when you get 50 alpha males on a field, stuff happens.”

Whether more stuff happens remains to be seen but the conditions certainly seem ripe for more.

NBCSports has a column suggesting that the Pirates have “anger issues”. The author estimates that the Buccos have been part of 20% of the bench clearings over the last 5 seasons.

1

July 31, 2019 12:34 pm

Dr. Strangeglove

Kudos to Kela for sending the message. I hope the Bucs hang onto him and he becomes the closer after Vasquez is traded to the LAD for Dustin May and Gavin Lux.

1

July 31, 2019 12:13 pm

Sisyphus

No, you don’t send a message by throwing high, even if you’re not trying to hit the guy. It’s just way too dangerous. Archer did it right. So did Hughes. Kela deserves punishment.

1

July 31, 2019 4:27 pm

wehad'emalltheway

Does anyone else find it amusing that Francisco Cervelli was ejected even though he hasn’t even been on the roster for almost 3 months?

2

July 31, 2019 12:02 pm

ordinary human

if you’re on the IL I guess you can’t leave the dugout or something like that

1

July 31, 2019 12:08 pm

kr70

Watch the imbedded Fox Ohio video of the fight with your sound turned on. When Puig gets involved the stadium crew starts playing “You’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers Loved it!!!!

Some players deserve some chin music and Dietrich is one of them and if he continues to admire his home runs, he will see more chin music. If the Reds have a problem with it, then they better have a talk with him.

4

July 31, 2019 11:17 am

TC

Trevor Williams seems like a really good guy, but I’m sorry no one in baseball is going to war on the field. I admire standing up for teammates and having their backs but these athletes need to stop saying they go to war. It’s comical actually.

1

July 31, 2019 11:17 am

ImEasyEd

C’mon man, you know he doesn’t mean that literally, any more than “combat catch” should be taken literally. And those things they call “trenches” in football – guess what, they aren’t really trenches either.

The Reds are a bunch of punk-asses, and screw Joey Votto by the way. The Reds Manager, David Bell, who is this guy? He wants to attack Clint Hurdle? Sure, Clint’s hips are both new but, he’s a little old for a shoving match with a lunatic cry-baby that’s gone totally out of control.

Yasiel Puig should have been arrested where he stood out in right field.

This brawl was overdue. Of course it’s too little, too late, I get it, but, I like the fire. Ya gotta admit, it was entertaining. I never saw a brawl of quite that dimension and scope. I’d like to think that the Osuna home-run was the real catalyst, the final kick in the Red crotch, as it were.

Let’s go Bucs!

1

July 31, 2019 11:10 am

ordinary human

Just throwing this little factoid out there, not sure if I’m repeating. Since 2013 the Pirates have hit 320 batters, 41 more than any other team

-5

July 31, 2019 10:46 am

ordinary human

why is this is down voter? If this is the perception (fact came from Ken Rosenthal or Buster Olney) in the universe of baseball, then teams are going to be suspicious of Pirates before game even starts. Just pointing out actual information

-7

July 31, 2019 11:36 am

chrisinindy

Most of the subscriber base is adverse to actual facts.

2

July 31, 2019 11:50 am

ordinary human

yeah there are some serious wusses on here that also like to stalk people and down vote…so ridiculous

-5

July 31, 2019 11:58 am

EddieT

Batters who crowd the plate are going to inadvertently get hit. Pitchers cannot concede the inside part of the strike zone. Otherwise, batters will own the outside corners of the strike zone. The only thing that your factoid proves is that the Pirates throw inside. By drawing attention to this factoid, you are implying that the Pirates are intentionally throwing at opposing batters. That implication should be down-cupped. What is more likely is that the Pirate pitchers do not have adequate control, and pitches get away from them. The Pirates have moved away from the sinker slider control pitchers, and have continuously drafted and traded for big guys with big arms and modest control.

0

July 31, 2019 1:13 pm

ordinary human

we hit more batters than anyone…that’s it. You can draw your own conclusions, that is what’s known as a “fact”

-1

July 31, 2019 1:42 pm

Emdil

Once again great theatrics by Puig. If he ever gets tired of baseball I’m sure Vince McMahon would love to give him a try.

5

July 31, 2019 10:45 am

Luke Man52

He always looks like a maniac who is out of control but you never see him throw punches. Like you said Emdil, it’s all theatrics for the camera.

2

July 31, 2019 11:13 am

ImEasyEd

Based on his hairdo, he could rassle as “The Skunk”

0

July 31, 2019 12:26 pm

Rusty58

Well, the baseball between 2 cellar dwellers isn’t worth watching.

Maybe go the Pro-Wrestling route and stage a brawl.

0

July 31, 2019 10:40 am

chrisinindy

I loved it. Great game! That’s baseball for those of us that still care to watch. It’s all we have, and maybe all we’re gonna have.

I ain’t gonna give up on love.

1

July 31, 2019 11:12 am

Steven Weisenberg

No matter the team… it’s stupid and dangerous to throw at or near one’s head. I love Pittsburgh… but this organization’s an embarrassment.

-7

July 31, 2019 10:36 am

chrisinindy

Arf.

0

July 31, 2019 11:13 am

MT

The embarrassment is their owner and GM.

4

July 31, 2019 11:31 am

JAR

Look at Joey Cora in the picture up to. it appears he is dancing with a reds player/coach. too funny. I bet hes waving him home.

7

July 31, 2019 10:20 am

jbgobucs

Omg not sure how I missed it

1

July 31, 2019 11:33 am

bigdaddy

Two teams that are going nowhere. At least the Reds front office is trying to improve their team. Bauer is a good pickup. The same cannot be said about Nutting who refuses to spend money to help his team out.

5

July 31, 2019 10:17 am

Sisyphus

Right, they were trying to improve their team when they added Kemp and Puig over the offseason. Kemp has been released and Puig was a big disappointment, traded away along with their #2 prospect for a pitcher who the Indians were desperate to deal because of anger management issues. I’m sure he’ll be a big help in their ongoing effort to stay out of the NL Central cellar in 2020.

0

July 31, 2019 4:33 pm

Frank Domenic Jr.

Baseball games are long enough to not have to be distracted with a reimagination of the WWE. Send a message – suspend Garrett for the remainder of the season

1

July 31, 2019 9:54 am

ImEasyEd

And Bell

0

July 31, 2019 12:27 pm

doctorfoge

I guess we can keep Kela around now…

7

July 31, 2019 9:52 am

Travis

Oh darn. I forgot to tune in & with that said I’d much rather watch these two teams fight than play baseball.

8

July 31, 2019 9:44 am

Dante211

During the seventh inning stretch at today’s game, they should change the title of the song to “Take Me Out to the Brawl Game. “

2

July 31, 2019 9:36 am

Trainframe

Meanwhile, this pales in comparison to a Hockey line brawl with a goalie fight!😁

2

July 31, 2019 9:35 am

Armyvet77

Still waiting for a real punch to be thrown!!

2

July 31, 2019 11:03 am

Trainframe

I know right? Buncha crybabies!

2

July 31, 2019 11:13 am

EddieT

I still think that the Pirates should have started the Hanson Brothers in the outfield today.

0

July 31, 2019 1:15 pm

enaft

Well . . . they got me to read a story about them in spite of their competitive irrelevance, so that’s something I guess.

11

July 31, 2019 9:31 am

BeachBurgher

This. ⬆️

0

July 31, 2019 10:54 am

Guntown Johnny

It sure looked like Garrett connected with somebody’s head. MLB players are a bunch of babies. History, tradition, protecting the game … bunch of BS.

1

July 31, 2019 9:23 am

Tbunner66

No doubt Kela was intimidating Dietrich. And don’t think it didn’t work (Dietrich struckout). Hughes then plunks Marte – should’ve been over. Amir Garrett started the whole thing, the guy is a POS headcase. Came into the game talking sh*t to Josh Bell, before the first pitch….the HR by Osuna combined with Dugout chirping him set him off. Not to mention their Mgr charging back onto the field (not to break it up) but to escalate even more. Cinci is a complete joke

14

July 31, 2019 9:19 am

kinger87

I heard that Lonnie somehow sustained an injury in the brawl, although he’s currently seeking a second opinion.

Weird.

45

July 31, 2019 9:19 am

blackandgoldpgh

Jumped up off his couch?

14

July 31, 2019 9:20 am

enaft

Sometimes there just aren’t enough upcups.

11

July 31, 2019 9:31 am

jbgobucs

Hilarity!

2

July 31, 2019 11:35 am

MT

CTFU!

1

July 31, 2019 11:35 am

ImEasyEd

Kinger FTW!

1

July 31, 2019 12:28 pm

Hockeymn25

I love it. I hope they bring the pitchforks today. At least it was interesting enough for me to not fast forward on my DVR. Side note, Kela can be the closer once a month when needed, so trade Vazquez……

10

July 31, 2019 9:17 am

joe123

Kela might be a first class jag off, a disappointment and will probably traded today..but the Bucs haven’t had a pitcher with that kind of attitude since A.J. Burnett. Kela might not be half the pitcher Burnett was…but it’s no coincidence that the success in 2013-2015 started with Burnett’s arrival.

8

July 31, 2019 9:12 am

NC-BOB

I agree that Burnett was a strong team leader who contributed to their success via his play and leadership. I also seem to recall that AJ didn’t believe in throwing at batters – even in retaliation. He would tell you to STFD after striking you out if you showed him up.

Kela is a jagoff – yes. He reignited this thing for no good reason.
Deitrich has been in a miserable slump since the last time the Pirates were in Cincy around Memorial Day.

0

July 31, 2019 9:59 am

Gary Conti

How many times do we have to see video of Puig rushing to be held back? No matter the uniform, he leads MLB in being held back. You would think one time that a guy who looks like he wants trouble would make contact with something other than the arms of his teammates. Crick laughed at him eyeball to eyeball because it has to be known that the guy looks great rushing to the scene to do a Fred Sanford. I just hope that his new teammates in Cleveland do something they did not do in LA or Cinci. Just let him go! It will end right there and maybe for good.

13

July 31, 2019 9:06 am

ordinary human

every time things were dying down puig kept starting it up again. I cant imagine why anyone would want that psycho

6

July 31, 2019 9:08 am

scd5045

Except for the beginning, look where our bell was, behind moran who was holding back puig. Way to jump in there bell….

-8

July 31, 2019 9:18 am

lizard_kingbb

“I’m comin’ ‘lizbeth! It’s the big one!!”

6

July 31, 2019 9:42 am

TheWolf

So spot on about Puig. Personally Id love to see him stretchered off after somebody one punch KOs his ass.

2

July 31, 2019 10:00 am

chrisinindy

I was thinking he might be restrained by security and arrested. Can you imagine him putting up a struggle as he’s hand-cuffed? It’s still making me laugh out loud.

0

July 31, 2019 11:17 am

ImEasyEd

He needs the Nolan Ryan Noogie

0

July 31, 2019 12:30 pm

Vinqtin

I’m glad someone else has noticed that Puig is all show. 20 feet away from the other team he’s a raving lunatic, face to face he always manages to calm down. Hmmmm…

0

July 31, 2019 12:45 pm

ordinary human

You can blame this one on Puig, Dietrich, and Bell. Two of them are juiced up lunatics, and Bell has some kind of mental disorder

2

July 31, 2019 9:04 am

my3sons

Will the ump call out ‘play ball’ or ‘let’s get ready to rumble’ prior to first pitch?

13

July 31, 2019 8:40 am

Thats Unpossible

The Reds bench coach should get a long suspension. He had a chance to diffuse the situation when he went out to get Garrett. Instead he seemed to encourage him to start something after taking the ball and tapping him on the leg.

3

July 31, 2019 8:37 am

Jay Roberts

Whole bunch of nothing coming from the last place team in the division and second to last in the conference…

Musgrove solid, hes a battler on the mound…

8

July 31, 2019 8:36 am

chrisinindy

Ya gotta love Joe. He’s the best pitcher we have at this point, and by far.

1

July 31, 2019 11:17 am

my3sons

Garrett wouldn’t have charged the Pirates if Randal Simon was still in the dugout.

10

July 31, 2019 8:33 am

snowbeltfan

That’s funny!

1

July 31, 2019 9:25 am

Risbon130

Reds are like the little beagle, can dish it out but can’t take it.Chaapman throws at Cutch multiple times, it just baseball not personal. Dietrich is a tool and a hotdog, what goes around comes around.As far as Reds mgr Bell, no crying in baseball, dry up.

5

July 31, 2019 8:32 am

chrisinindy

It’s bin goin’ on for years…

0

July 31, 2019 11:18 am

Jackson Pollock

Don’t forget about Dock Ellis plunking Reds. There certainly has been a history of animosity between these 2 teams.

4

July 31, 2019 8:29 am

tpm66

This just in – Pirates have traded Trevor Williams for Ryan Reaves. Problem is there are no superstars that need protection.

1

July 31, 2019 8:24 am

Hockeymn25

2 downcups? This is funny ^^^^^^. Reaves whoppin Puigs arse would be worth the price of admission. What a DB Puig is. He stands in view of the pitcher instead of the normal spot just to be a DB while on deck….

0

July 31, 2019 9:40 am

BeachBurgh

2 minute penalty for cross-sporting

2

July 31, 2019 10:02 am

chrisinindy

Hah!

-1

July 31, 2019 11:18 am

MT

I upcupped this. It’s funny!!!

0

July 31, 2019 11:40 am

Cpt. Delicious Pants

It kind of suck how the whole Kela situation has gone done and it really sucks that it looks like it going to end with him being traded today because the Kela we’ve seen over the last few games is the player we all thought we were getting when the trade was announced. This Kela is a huge asset to the team.

9

July 31, 2019 8:23 am

doctorfoge

Great arm and his attitude might be what this team needs. Sure looked like a team guy last night.

6

July 31, 2019 9:56 am

NC-BOB

He is very talented, but he is often injured, and I question his motivation.
I suspect he is more clubhouse cancer than team leader.
Trade him.

-2

July 31, 2019 10:07 am

snowbeltfan

At least none of the Pirates was bitten this time, a la Pedro Bourbon. Can’t remember which Buc it was, but a grown man biting someone – that’s memorable.

1

July 31, 2019 8:18 am

maz01

The bitten buc was relief pitcher Darryl Patterson.

6

July 31, 2019 9:08 am

snowbeltfan

Good recall, maz.

1

July 31, 2019 9:23 am

Ballgame

I thought they packed it in and we’re going to sleepwalk through the rest of the season. Maybe not but Let’s see this fire between the lines for games .

2

July 31, 2019 8:16 am

musicman

David Bell is so brave picking on a 62 year old man with two hip surgeries. What a tool.

11

July 31, 2019 8:14 am

my3sons

Bell should get a 10 game suspension for returning to the field after being ejected.

19

July 31, 2019 8:34 am

doctorfoge

At least,

2

July 31, 2019 9:56 am

scotto

That 62 year old man should have stayed in the dug out.

0

July 31, 2019 12:37 pm

BubbaBanjo

These teams stink. Cincy is Bat Crap crazy. At least it ain’t boring.

5

July 31, 2019 8:10 am

Gary Morgan

Two bottom of the division teams decided to have a d*** measuring contest. The real story is Bell. This fool has all his guys looking for any excuse so he can settle whatever score he has with Hurdle. Who knows what thats all about. Maybe Hurdle didn’t like Davids Daddy. Maybe Hurdle said something about poor little Davey’s mom. Maybe David is just an example of what happens when an entitled A hole gets a big boy job and can’t believe nobody is listening to him.

I hate the Reds.

7

July 31, 2019 8:08 am

Vinqtin

I believe they mentioned on the broadcast last night that Hurdle replaced Bell’s dad as manager of the Rockies. Maybe there’s history there.

2

July 31, 2019 12:40 pm

Toro Loco NC

Up until last night these Bucs were BRUTAL to watch …… Hopefully today will be about baseball but I wouldn’t mind if another hockey game broke out…. I miss hockey …. can’t wait til summer end so hockey season starts !!!

1

July 31, 2019 8:04 am

MT

Amen on hockey!

0

July 31, 2019 11:42 am

TWM

The Reds have no room to talk about head hunting. See Chapman vs Cutch. Multiple times. Ancient history? Not so much.

7

July 31, 2019 8:01 am

rmweber94+

Wonder how Cindy would explain things to Cleveland if Puig got hurt.

4

July 31, 2019 7:57 am

Titan35

Or suspended…..

2

July 31, 2019 8:14 am

Gary Morgan

Probably “You guys knew he was dirt stupid right?”

8

July 31, 2019 8:16 am

TWM

The rest of MLB laughs at this as much as we would laugh at a skirmish between the Bills and Dolphins. Two teams angry that they continue to suck.

3

July 31, 2019 7:54 am

Donnie

Kela through a 97mph fastball that was on a rope towards Dietrich’s head. I don’t care what the history is or how much of a snowboater Dietrich is, that’s just horrible. I never want to see him take the mound for the Pirates again.

But Bell should be ashamed of himself for trying to fight Clint Hurdle.

-30

July 31, 2019 7:48 am

mitchapalo0za

It’s not even August yet but we’re already seeing snowflakes

3

July 31, 2019 8:20 am

Donnie

I’d like to see how you’d react to a fastball thrown at your head. Kela had Dietrich’s whole backside to work with.

-5

July 31, 2019 8:41 am

mitchapalo0za

Same way. Adjust my gloves and get back in there. They don’t get paid millions to cry about a high pitch

2

July 31, 2019 8:54 am

efejr

*over

1

July 31, 2019 10:31 am

MT

*under

0

July 31, 2019 12:14 pm

TC

He didn’t hit him. I’m sure he could have if he wanted.

2

July 31, 2019 11:26 am

Tbunner66

Pitching inside is part of the game and will never go away.

12

July 31, 2019 8:33 am

Donnie

That wasn’t pitching inside.

-8

July 31, 2019 8:43 am

my3sons

The pitch was over the plate. 7 feet over the plate.

7

July 31, 2019 8:36 am

EddieT

Exactly. The catcher couldn’t even reach it. The pitch was worthy of Ebbie Calvin Laloush, when his pitch hit the top of the backstop. Kela must have been breathing through his eyeballs.

0

July 31, 2019 1:22 pm

TripleThreat

So it doesn’t get lost in the down cups, I completely agree with you about the pitch and that it was horrible. I won’t go so far as to say I never want to see Kela pitch for the Pirates again, but I do think MLB will (and should) suspend him along with several others. I’m guessing Huntington, Hurdle and their Cincy counterparts are on a long conference call today with MLB staff to get the message that they need to shut this crap down.

Edit: for the record, the Reds did throw at Cutch, and I can’t stand them, but “who started it” arguments are for 5 year olds.

2

July 31, 2019 9:10 am

Deaf Yinzer

youre a wimp. don’t be a snowflake. its sports and people fights.

-2

July 31, 2019 9:56 am

Fastman14

Doc Ellis is smiling down on Kela today …….

4

July 31, 2019 10:24 am

Vinqtin

It apparently doesn’t matter if the pitch is thrown up and in or behind the batter (see April), the Reds acts the same way and fly off the rails. Kela was not throwing at Dietrich’s head. He was throwing ABOVE his head. There is a difference. Like he said, he was sending a message. He was not trying to hit him. If he was, he would have been hit.

David Bell is an idiot and has thrown gasoline on this since day one. Joe Maddon is sitting in Chicago with a big smile on his face watching this moron do his dirty work.

2

July 31, 2019 12:38 pm

dwvandeveer

That was a baby fit by Garrett. Also, can we just both agree neither of our teams are playing very well? Unfortunately a championship does not hang in the balance…. maybe there’s the problem.

5

July 31, 2019 7:34 am

JosABank

Seems like Kela is doing his best to get moved out of Pittsburgh. He had to know what his “sending a message” would start back up.

-8

July 31, 2019 7:32 am

RS711

Getting a suspension the day before the trade deadline is not helping your case if you want a trade.

2

July 31, 2019 8:14 am

Uncle Steelkings

I wonder if Kela wants to pitch in Pittsburgh even more than I did before this incident. I dont wonder about the pitch in general. Its more about admitting he did it on purpose. He will certainly sit for two weeks mininmum

-3

July 31, 2019 7:30 am

Gary Morgan

He didn’t hit him. The result matters, he won’t get much.

3

July 31, 2019 8:17 am

Clark Suckling

The Reds should know not to mess with a man just off suspension for messing with team employees….if they don’t watch it, the bullpen coach is gonna get in their grill next 🙂

3

July 31, 2019 7:28 am

Bridge

Interesting that was all started by the guy the Pirates suspended for 2 games for who knows what sticking up for his teammates.

1

July 31, 2019 7:19 am

Cliff70

How was Kela’s purposely throwing at Dietrich’s head sticking up for anyone? Nothing had happened up to that point.

1

July 31, 2019 7:30 am

Drock17

Marte was hit. Says that plain as day in the article.

0

July 31, 2019 9:13 am

bklecks

Marte was hit after that occured

0

July 31, 2019 11:09 am

efejr

*over

1

July 31, 2019 10:32 am

MT

*under

0

July 31, 2019 12:26 pm

spe143

The theatrics of MLB is yet another reason that my interest has waned. Having to witness crap like this then throw in that dolt in Chicago then that’s about enough for me.

0

July 31, 2019 7:19 am

Cpt. Delicious Pants

Bye.

2

July 31, 2019 8:27 am

Cliff70

Kela needlessly throwing at Dietrich’s head for an incident that happened in April was ridiculous. I doubt that anyone in the Buc dugout knew it was going to happen. They just responded to Votto (justifiably, in my view) yapping at Kela. The whole thing should have been over when Hughes hit Marte in the time-honored way of retaliation, and was ejected. Garrett, apparently just as prickly as Kela, then escalated things beyond the norm.
This was all Kela and Garrett’s fault. Should have let the two of them fight each other. Kela will be suspended as well as the Pirates already listed.

2

July 31, 2019 7:15 am

my3sons

It’s not like Osuna moon-walked around the bases after his home run, either.

3

July 31, 2019 8:38 am

efejr

*over

1

July 31, 2019 10:32 am

MT

*under

0

July 31, 2019 11:48 am

Don Flamenco

Between this incident and his later discourses on Theodor Adorno, Yasiel Puig is quite the enigma for the average baseball fan.

2

July 31, 2019 7:14 am

MT

*enema…fixed it for ya 😉

2

July 31, 2019 11:49 am

edzo

Neanderthal, tribal mentality, but entertaining?

7

July 31, 2019 7:11 am

Wild Bill

Had gone to bed by then, but was there any good reason within the game for Kela to be throwing at Dietrich when they both had just entered the game?

-2

July 31, 2019 7:02 am

blackandgoldpgh

No.

-1

July 31, 2019 9:24 am

doctorfoge

Practice?

0

July 31, 2019 10:01 am

MainLineBurgher

A few observations: What’s up with David Bell? And shouldn’t he be suspended for many games? Amazing how their football team mirrors their baseball team in many ways; for example, their victim mentality? How do the Clevelanders feel to see their newly acquired Cincinatti guy not only on the field but in a fight no less? Dietrich wasn’t hit! Bell wants the league to ‘do something about it’.. what, throwing inside? I didn’t realize Votto was such a jerk (I guess I wasn’t paying attention?)

16

July 31, 2019 7:01 am

scope8771

Trevor Williams is an idiot. “It’s not good for the fans.” No, it’s great for the fans. At least it was a nice distraction from what a crappy baseball team we have. Some of these guys need to get punched in the face after the years they’ve had.

-35

July 31, 2019 7:00 am

willbrogan

That tweet with the melee was the first sustained baseball viewership I’ve had in weeks 😂

13

July 31, 2019 7:13 am

schwab

Computer tough guy

2

July 31, 2019 7:17 am

scope8771

What a brilliant response man. Seriously, well done.

0

July 31, 2019 8:56 am

schwab

Thank you

0

July 31, 2019 11:23 am

Joe Yinzer

How was Garrett not carted off on a stretcher?
The Pirates should have pummeled him.

10

July 31, 2019 6:52 am

scd5045

Who was going to pummel him, the bat boy?

-3

July 31, 2019 8:51 am

schwab

Too bad you aren’t on the team. You could have done it since you’re so tough.

1

July 31, 2019 11:22 am

dmburcic

The battle for last. Who wants it more.

10

July 31, 2019 6:31 am

BigFiddy

So who won the fight?

1

July 31, 2019 6:25 am

scope8771

The fans of two shitty baseball teams.

13

July 31, 2019 7:01 am

Uncle Steelkings

Elisabeth Warren

-2

July 31, 2019 7:32 am

dmburcic

The winner actually lost because they lost ground in the battle for last

1

July 31, 2019 10:24 am

Bubbabooey

Presumably Bell can throw a punch better than he can go 3-2.

-8

July 31, 2019 6:25 am

Nick Staresinic

I stopped following the Nutting Nine some time ago. It’s sad that the only thing that would get me even to read about them again is this kind of knock-down-drag-out.

(Next time they play the Reds, instead of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, maybe they should get a trumpeter to play a degüello, like at the Alamo?)

-2

July 31, 2019 6:01 am

Suwanee88

Puig and Garrett just mowed through our guys – Josh Bell should have thrown his weight around more.

-29

July 31, 2019 5:59 am

TM

Puig did almost nothing and Garrett got dog piled by about 10 Pirates. Try again.

2

July 31, 2019 8:30 am

doctorfoge

I guess you missed the shot Osuna gave him after he had already cranked that HR that is what got him so worked up in the first place.

4

July 31, 2019 10:04 am

YunzerNation

Best thing to possibly come out of this? Archer gets suspended and we’re spared his next scheduled home run derby experience.

-20

July 31, 2019 5:49 am

RadioWave

After reading everything my impression is it’s all stupid. Only thing more stupid would be if these teams continue this in a meaningless game in a empty ballpark on september 29.

3

July 31, 2019 5:48 am

JayinVA

It is such a joke to hear the Reds complaining about pitching inside and high. Dusty Baker used to have their pitchers throwing right at McCutchen’s head. Sadly, the Pirates didn’t run out of the dugout to protect him.

30

July 31, 2019 5:39 am

MainLineBurgher

Jay you’re wrong. That’s why 2 of our guys got ejected… for jumping out of the dugout. And then everyone else followed. I’m sure they weren’t all expecting for the pitcher to charge the dugout

-5

July 31, 2019 6:55 am

Rennie.336

Good point jay

1

July 31, 2019 7:11 am

Bubbabooey

Williams believes that he and his teammates “go to war with each other every day?”

3

July 31, 2019 5:30 am

iglooz

Maybe Pirates should trade for Ryan Reaves???

18

July 31, 2019 5:27 am

Meglasdad

Ok, that’s funny lol

1

July 31, 2019 6:34 am

MT

Oh my!

0

July 31, 2019 5:14 am

chuckinrlp

Gee, wonder if the owner will pony up the fines to reward his players for showing some heart. Oh, wait…….

1

July 31, 2019 5:01 am

Bisonbuff

Both sides look foolish. Yay, fighting over the cellar.

-4

July 31, 2019 4:09 am

Ferb

My goodness this event was made for a @Jomboy_ video breakdown and it didn’t disappoint.

It somehow made me feel even worse about the Archer trade, and I didn’t think that was possible.

-9

July 31, 2019 3:13 am

Ferb

All you downvotes can go blow smoke. DK saw the value in Jomboy’s video enough to include it in the next article. Ya jagoffs. Hope your notifications are on and ya learn something. You deserve the Archer trade.

0

August 1, 2019 4:53 am

madmike1973

Most entertainment from a Bucs game in a month.

30

July 31, 2019 2:29 am

Pittsburgh Innocents

David Bell is an idiot.

72

July 31, 2019 2:21 am

Donnie

He’s also a lot more than that, but this is still a family site so we’ll keep it relatively clean 😉.